Critical Reasoning 101

Are you confident you can reason clearly? Are you able to convince others of your point of view? Are you able to give plausible reasons for believing what you believe? Do you sometimes read arguments in the newspapers, hear them on the television, or in the pub and wish you knew how to confidently evaluate them?

In this six-part series, you will learn all about arguments, how to identify them, how to evaluate them, and how not to mistake bad arguments for good. Such skills are invaluable if you are concerned about the truth of your beliefs, and the cogency of your arguments.

Marianne Talbot is director of studies in philosophy at Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education.

Supplied courtesy of Oxford University under a Creative Commons Licence.

Note: The broacasting this series, or its inclusion in this website, in no way denotes a recommendation or endorsement by Oxford University.

Critical Reasoning 101 Show Archive:

The Nature of Arguments

The first of six lectures dealing with critical reasoning. In this lecture you will learn how to recognise arguments and what the nature of an argument is.

The Nature of Arguments (Slides)

Friday 29th January 2010

Your browser does not support the audio element

The first of six lectures dealing with critical reasoning. In this lecture you will learn how to recognise arguments and what the nature of an argument is.

Different Types of Arguments

Friday 29th January 2010

Your browser does not support the audio element

The second of six lectures dealing with critical reasoning. In this lecture you will learn about the different types of arguments, in particular deductive and inductive arguments.

Different Types of Arguments (Slides)

Friday 29th January 2010

Your browser does not support the audio element

The second of six lectures dealing with critical reasoning. In this lecture you will learn about the different types of arguments, in particular deductive and inductive arguments.

Setting out Arguments Logic Book Style

Wednesday 10th March 2010

Your browser does not support the audio element

Part three of a six-part series on critical reasoning. In this lecture we will focus on how to identify and analyse arguments, and how to set arguments out logic book-style to make them easier to evaluate.

Setting out Arguments Logic Book Style (Slides)

Wednesday 10th March 2010

Your browser does not support the audio element

Part three of a six-part series on critical reasoning. In this lecture we will focus on how to identify and analyse arguments, and how to set arguments out logic book-style to make them easier to evaluate.

What is a Good Argument? Validity and Truth

Thursday 11th March 2010

Your browser does not support the audio element

Part four of a six-part series on critical reasoning. In this lecture we will learn how to evaluate arguments and how to tell whether an argument is good or bad, focusing specifically on inductive arguments.

What is a Good Argument? Validity and Truth (Slides)

Thursday 11th March 2010

Your browser does not support the audio element

Part four of a six-part series on critical reasoning. In this lecture we will learn how to evaluate arguments and how to tell whether an argument is good or bad, focusing specifically on inductive arguments.

Evaluating Arguments Part One

Monday 15th March 2010

Your browser does not support the audio element

Part five of a six-part series on critical reasoning. In this lecture we will continue with the evaluation of arguments - this time deductive arguments - focusing in particular on the notion of validity.

Evaluating Arguments Part One (Slides)

Monday 15th March 2010

Your browser does not support the audio element

Part five of a six-part series on critical reasoning. In this lecture we will continue with the evaluation of arguments - this time deductive arguments - focusing in particular on the notion of validity.